When the winter chrysanthemums go
When the winter chrysanthemums go,there's nothing to write about but radishes
Translated by Robert Hass
When the winter chrysanthemums go,there's nothing to write about but radishes
Translated by Robert Hass
The pungent smells of a California winter,
Grayness and rosiness, an almost transparent full moon
I add logs to the fire,
I drink and I ponder
The sun that brief December day Rose cheerless over hills of gray,
And, darkly circled, gave at noon A sadder light than waning moon
Slow tracing down the thickening sky Its mute and ominous prophecy,
A portent seeming less than thr...
Nicotia, dearer to the
Than all the grape's bewildering juice,
We worship, unforbid of thee;
And as her incense floats and
See,
Winter comes, to rule the varied year,
Sullen and sad, with all his rising train;
Vapours, and clouds, and storms
The wintry west extends his blast,
And hail and rain does blaw;
Or the stormy north sends driving
The blinding sleet and snaw:
Sweet life
how lovely to be here And feel the soft sea-laden breeze Strike my flushed face, the spruce's fair Free limbs to see, the lesser trees' Bare hands to touch, the sparrow's cheep To heed, and watch his nimble flight Above the short b...
Clouded with snow The cold winds blow,
And shrill on leafless bough The robin with its burning breast Alone sings now
The rayless sun,
Day's journey done,
Take a good one look around
Everywhere there's leafless trees
Snow has fallen on the ground
From the sea cold coming breeze
I
HO all the winter
Cherished other loves than you,
And kept hands with hoary policy in marriage-bed and pew;
No more the morn with tepid
Unfolds the flower of various hue;
Noon spreads no more the genial blaze,
Nor gentle eve distills the dew
Three months bade wane and wax the wintering
Between two dates of death, while men were
Yet of the living light that all too soon Three months bade wane
Cold autumn, wan with wrath of wind and rain,